Short Film - Research and Planning

 

Audience Profile

Primary - Jerome Carter

Jerome is a 17 year old student currently attending college. He enjoys going to the cinema three times a month. He enjoys watching horror, comedy and parody films. Jerome prefers to go to the cinema with his friends rather than stay at home. He feels that the atmosphere at home is not as exciting as going to watch movie outside of the house. In terms of music Jerome likes hip hop, R’n’B and jazz. He enjoys rapping along to some of his greatest rappers and writing some of his own. Jerome listens to his music on his iPod and when he’s at home on his computer.

Jerome enjoys films and TV shows that relate to his background such as Eastenders, KiDULTHOOD, Misfits etc. Jerome’s dresses like a stereotypical youth i.e. jeans, hoodie and era hat. He feels comfortable in those clothes and not out of place around his friends. He likes to shop at places like JD sports, Adidas and Nike. In his spare time Jerome likes to play X-Box or go to his friend’s house to talk.

Jerome is our primary audience as he resembles what we want our audience’s personality to be like. He is also I the appropriate age bracket for the certificate (12A).

Secondary - Anna Phillips

Anna is a 21 year old student studying at university. She enjoys watching films but mostly at the cinema. This is so she can get away from the stresses and hard work and studying at university. Her aim is to become a researcher which is why she is studying sociology. This is one of the reasons she goes to the cinema to take notes on how people are portrayed in movies i.e. stereotypes. Anna enjoys music such as jazz and pop. During her studies Anna conducted a piece of research about youth culture. In doing this she found that she really enjoyed how the youth of today operate and what they do for fun. She has come to like teenage movies such as Attack the Block, Bullet Boy, Fish Tank.

In her spare time Anna enjoys reading and going to the park on a sunny day. She finds observing society outside of her studies can be more interesting and resourceful. Anna is our secondary target audience because she fits some of the features we are looking for in an audience. Even though they are two different genders Anna and Jerome represents our target audience members. We are not aiming at just one gender or ethnicity but a variety of ethnicities, boys and girls.

 

Risk Assessment

Cookie Monstaz: Film Treatment

Scene One

Our film starts with two students named Bill and Bob. We will have an establishing shot of the college/ school and then a long shot of the two boys walking into the canteen. They both reach for the last cookie and a close up of the cookie is shown. They look at each other and with a fierce look, this is when the equilibrium ends and the disruption begins. They argue about who gets the last cookie. Over the shoulder shots are shown as there is an element of conversation takes place. For this scene we will play light, casual non diegetic music in the background before any dialogue comes in. after the cookie is grabbed the backing music stops. After a while of arguing a fellow student comes along asks about the situation. The two boys explain and they agree to settle the dispute after school/ college. The fellow student agrees to hold onto the cookie until the settlement. They agree to the form of settlement and they all leave the canteen with dramatic exits. A dolly shot is show of the individuals leaving the canteen one-by-one.

Scene Two

In this scene we see Bill and Bob training in the gym and preparing for the after school fight. There is a point of view shot when the two boys are doing various training activities such as sit ups and running on the treadmill. We will also see a parody scene from the Rocky movie when the main character is running up the steps. Non diegetic sound is played in the background of this scene. The music is parallel to what’s happening on screen. We will hear enthusiastic action music being played. At this point we will have a range of camera angles such as tracking shots, point of view, worm’s eye, long shot and a pan. Whilst Bill and Bob are training we see slow motion flash backs of the confrontation in the canteen from the start of the film to motivate their training. Images of cookies are held in front of Bill and Bob whilst they work out. During this training scene we see a message being sent to various people saying ‘massive fight after school’ this is to show how big the confrontation is.

Scene Three

This last scene is the major part of the film as it will be the ‘final showdown’. A long shot of Bill and Bob walking towards each other is shown. Non diegetic cowboy music is played to imitate the stereotypical cowboy showdown. A parody of the 1966 cowboy film ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly’ is shown. This is to show how they are feeling through their body language i.e. nervous, scared, determined etc. The camera arcs around Bill and Bob. we hear the friend from the start of the movie begin to talk and introduce the fight (medium shot and close up). He hands the cookie over to Big D who holds the cookie until the end of the fight (close up). The friend counts to three and they Bill and Bob begin to dance. At this point the crowd begins to cheer and make a lot of noise (close ups and medium shots). After three rounds of dance moves a winner is announced and they are handed the cookie by big D (close up and medium shot). The winner struggles to open to cookie wrapper and in desperation to open it the cookie falls on the floor (close up, medium shot and worm’s eye). The winner falls to his knees in agony and shock whilst the crowd stamps on the cookie. This part is shown in slow motion with dramatic non diegetic music playing to emphasise the tragedy. The winner picks up the cookie and cries to himself while the crowd disperse. (Long shot, medium shot, worm’s eye and God’s eye)

Scene Four

Bill and Ben walk into the canteen and reach for the last glass of milk. They look each other in the eye whilst Bob says ‘so, we meet again’ and both Bill and Bob look at the camera, break the fourth wall and say ‘Got Milk?’ at the same time. This shows that there is an open ended narrative at the end of the story.

Cookie Monstaz: Proposal

Production Company:
Sweet & Sour Productions
Title:
Cookie Monstaz
Date:
22/09/2011
Production Cast:
Joshua, Natalie, Tina & Ophelia
Director:
Natalie Smith 
Synopsis:
The film follows the first main character who’s called Bill in his college cafeteria. He looks around in the sweets sections and looks to buy a packet of cookies. When he reaches for it the second main character that’s called Bob also reaches for the exact same product. This results in a confrontation between the two. A Good Samaritan intervenes and helps the two settle their dispute after college. She also secures the packet of cookies.
The majority of the film follows the students training in the gym but they will be referencing other films. While this takes place word gets out to other students so we can emphasise on how big this confrontation is going to be, but the two never said anything about fighting.
In the final scene the two meet and begin dancing, after the dance is finished Bill wins the dance battle but accidently causes the cookies to spill on the floor, after all his hard work he loses his prize. After this he goes to the cafeteria to buy milk and meets Bob again, the two share a quick dialogue symbolising another epic battle.
Target Audience:
The socio-economic grade for Cookie Monstaz is an E – Lower Level which is meant for students and the not extremely sophisticated. Neither does it apply to any ethnicity. The age group varies from 15 to 19 as this is a likely age for being in college. So college students could find the characters relatable. This will be shown through the language the characters use which is generally informal or custom. There is no specified gender audience.
Purpose:
The purpose of this film is to entertain the audience. Because it classifies as a parody it isn’t very serious so it doesn’t carry a political or social message, we are not trying to get a point across or making the audience change. The purpose is solely for entertainment but the fact that it’s a parody could mean we are mocking the original piece. For example we will use the showdown scene from the good, bad and the ugly. But because it’s a parody it shows we are using for a completely different purpose.
 
Cookie Monstaz
Written by Joshua & Tina
INT. COLLEGE CAFETERIA - DAY
MUSIC PLAYS
ANGLE ON NOTEPAD
A hand flips the page upwards and it reads
A Sweet & Sour Production
Another hand rips the page out and the next layer reads
Starring Joshua Elliston James JEJ
A different hand lifts up the page and it reads
( * ) ( * ) BOOBEEES lol!!!!!!!!
A hand removes the Notepad and the title FADES IN via computer
Cookie Monstaz
ANGLE ON BILL
He sits at a table finishing a sandwich while humming a tune.
BILL
...
He leaves the table and goes into the tuck-shop. In which Bob also walks in, both of them walk at the same time to the Tuck-shop.
BILL’S POINT OF VIEW
He looks around at the sweets.
ANGLE ON BILL
ANGLE ON COOKIES <WHITE SOFT GLOW> and MUSIC PLAYS
ANGLE ON BILL
It’s not long before he begins to salivate <MUSIC CUTTING OF> bringing him back to Bill and Bob staring off. They both grab the cookie.
BILL
…The hell man.
(His eyebrows cave in.)
BOB
What you say bish?
(He screws while salivate unintentionally pours out his mouth.)
Bob
(Raising his voice)
Bruv what’s wrong with you, I found this cookie first.
Bill
Nah mate you were too busy masturbating over the cookie... and now it’s mine!
ANGLE ON BILL THAT LOOKS LIKE HE’S MASTURBATING AGAIN REQUIRES RAPID HAND MOVEMENT.
BILL
I wasn’t mastur--
(Realising his hand movements and stops...)
BILL
I wasn’t masturbating...
He says while he lifts up his hand in a fist, ironically enough it is wet all over. He looks at it
BILL
--AW!
(Bill waves the saliva off his hand and accidentally onto Bob who reacts by slightly jumping.)
BOB
Why you do man!
(He runs to Bill and the two engage in a funny slap fight. But then they both back away.)
BOB
You want some of this bro? You can’t handle me, I’m too strong too sexy.
Henrietta enters.
Henrietta
Wah you guys makin noyse and dem ting deh. You see wah im sayin dem blak guy likky likky, brap brap. (Sounds like this)
BILL & BOB
What?
Henrietta
I said stop fighting.
BILL
I’ll stop fighting when you—
BILL & BOB
--tell her it’s my cookie.
BILL
Shut up!
BOB
You shut up!
Henrietta
Both of you shut up, it’s just a packet of cook--
ANGLE ON COOKIES <WHITE SOFT GLOW> and MUSIC PLAYS
ANGLE ON BOB
BILL
OH MY GOSH...
HE POINTS TO BOB
YOU
POINTS TO HIMSELF
ME AFTER COLLEGE!
Henrietta kisses her teeth & rolls her eyes while a LONG SHOT captures her leaving. Then Bill clicks his fingers and walks out while Bob bows his head.
NEXT SCENE
INT. GYM – AFTERTOON
GRAPHIC MATCH SHOT, Bob lifts his head & opens his eyes showing us he’s in the gym.
SPLIT-SCREEN Bill and Bob put in headphones at the same time and press play simultaneously.
MUSIC PLAYS
They both lift weights, followed by sit-ups on the floor with the cookie packet held in front of them.
JUMP TO SCENE in which they’re running up the stairs (parody of rocky). At the top both jump up and down and then the camera FREEZES while they’re in the air.
BILL & BOB
YEAH!!! (Parody of Billy Elliot)
FADE OUT INTO BLACK
EXT. FIELD/THEATRE – AFTERNOON END OF COLLEGE DAY
Music builds up as the crowd rages. Bill comes in from the left hand side like a wrestler and Bob enters from the right.
Henrietta
I got my team.
(The two have a showdown from the good, bad and the ugly. Shots on their eyes until tension are built up.)
Bill does a few stretching exercises and then breaks out dancing. Bob responds by dancing. This is followed by a montage of different dances. Bill wins on his last dance when Bob is suddenly struck by lightning.
The winner drops the cookie, the crowd stamps on it.
CROWD
LOSER!!!
BILL
Who’s the daddy now bish?
LAST SCENE
Bill walks into the canteen and reaches for something but a stranger reaches for it as well. They stare each other off.
BILL
I guess I got some time to kill!
(Turns to the camera and winks)
Music plays and the credits roll.
 
 

STORY BOARD


Reece Report

COOKIE MONSTAZ: PRODUCTON SCHEDULE



Cookie Monstaz: Pitch

The film is a creative comedy called ‘Cookie Monsters,’ which revolves around an unrealistic plot which in turn adds effect to the comedy. Though comedy is the main genre, it also contains several sub-genres of dance with contrasting themes of work-out and narration through a blend of music. The influence of other films like Rocky and The Good, Bad and the Ugly, allows it to also classify as a parody. It will also contain themes of breaking the fourth wall to contribute the comedy and take away the idea of it being a serious film.
It is centred on a character that cannot be identified as the protagonist; this will be explained during the film. The equilibrium abruptly ends during the beginning. The character comes into a supposedly aggressive confrontation with another character at his college; the comedy begins to unfold as it was started by a packet of cookies. This is when the disruption takes place. Ironically enough the tagline for the post is “Tough cookies don’t break...dance?” This also foreshadows events in the film.
The film will follow the two characters as they engage in pointless challenges of exercise routines under the influence of fast-paced, hyped music. After they finish working out they go to settle the issue by...dancing. However, tension will be built up to draw attention from something like this happening, for example we will have a close up shot on their eyes to show how serious they supposedly are. The first character introduced wins and takes his cookies to buy milk. At this point there is a new equilibrium. As he goes to buy the milk he realises that there’s only one left and reaches for it but another hand goes for it as well. It was the exact same person from before, the two stare at each other foreshadowing the same event to happen again and a new disruption.
The film has an open/closed narrative which is shown when the two meet again symbolises a civilised solution wasn’t agreed upon. The timeline is also non-linear because the characters will experience flashbacks to enhance emotional effects and characterisation.
The socio-economic grade for Cookie Monsters is an E – Lower Level which is meant for students and the not extremely sophisticated. The film is set mostly in a college and therefore doesn’t apply to the geo-demographics. Neither does it apply to any ethnicity. The age group varies between 12 as the certificate on the poster is 12a to 19 as this is a likely age for being in college. So it could apply more to college students the most. This will be shown through the language the characters use which is generally informal or custom. It wouldn’t make sense having the characters to talk like sophisticated people and yet they act uncivilised and like children. There is no gender as the cast will have both male and female interactive characters.
Question



COOKIE MONSTAZ's Audience Pitch

Thursday the 15th of September at approximately 14:31pm:

Ophelia, Natalie, Tina and Joshua picthed their idea for their movie which they called " Cookie Monsta" to the rest of the class who were their audience.

First of all, we pitched our synopsis to the class, which was the beginning, middle and end. We explained the equilibrium, then the disruption, an attempt to solve the disruption and then the new equilibrium.

As a group, eplained to the class that our film title it " Cookie Monsta " because the main synergy is the cookie. The tagline of the film is ' Tough cookies don't break....dance? ' Also our film will be shown in multiplex cinemas. The storyline will be a single strand narrative as we want our audience to focus on one comedy aspect and to focus on the storyline at large.
To make our film into a comedy we are doing a parody of the following films; Rocky , The good the bad & the ugly, also scary movie.
Furthermore the certificate for the movie is 12A as the film is targeted at youths aged from 12-19 years of age. Which then illustrates the socio-economic grades for the movie which is Grade D & E. This groups include unepmloyed civilians such as students, causual labourers, semi skilled & unskilled manual workers etc....

Our main purpose of this film is to entertain, as is why we made our film a comedy.

Overall the feedback we got from the audience was very positive.

* The first critique we got back from the audience, was , how are we going to show the fight/dance scene and how are we going to show the crowd of people?
# As a group we explained that we are going to get our closest friends together and put them into a cirlce and then we are going to show close ups of each person's face. Also the place that we are going to do the fight/dance scene is going to be on the monoux football pitch so that there is going to be enough space to film.


* The second critique was the audience asked us about the title. The reason is because there are two main characters and the title was " Cookie Monsta ." The audience sugested that we should change the title from singular to plural.
# As a group we changed the title from " Cookie Monsta " to " Cookie Monstaz ". =]
- The audience liked the circular narrative, which connects the ending of the film to the beginning of the film. The idea of the ending was appealing to the audience.
- Comments :
                   * " Unique & out of the box ," the whole class said that.
                   * " Creative tagline, it is awesome ."
                   * " Can't wait to see it ," the whole class said that.

In all the whole class really liked our pitch & our movie idea. =]